Motor vehicle wheel mechanism



June 4, 194-6n F: LEWIS 2,401,488

MOTOR VEHICLE WHEEL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 8 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MOTOR VEHICLE WHEEL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ywml/m Patented June 4,1946

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE Moron VEHICLE MECHANISM Frank M. Lewis, White Cloud, Mich. Appllcation February 8, 1943, Serial No. 475,059

, use at the present, time andin the past a number of problems have been encountered in anattempt to increase either the effectiveness or the life of such wheel mechanism Where it has been desired to driveboth wheels, of a dualwheel mechanism. the twowheels'have been rigidly inter-' e somewhat depending upon whether the vehicles connected. This has made impossibleany differential action between the two wheels. The result has been an excessive wear on the tires of the outer wheel when the vehicle was makingeurves or turning corners. On the other hand, where present or past dual mechanisms have been arranged to provide for a difierential action between the two wheels. no satisfactory provision has been made for either driving or braking both ofthewheels. J

Accordingly, .the main objects of this invention are to provide an improved combination'dual wheel and brake mechanism for motor vehicles ha g constant differential action between them at 11 times; and to provide an improved wheel and brake mechanism of this kind which permits one or both of the wheels to be driven.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein shown: y

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of my improved combination dual wheel and vbrake mechanism suitable for use on a motor vehicle .with a driven a Fig. 2 is a similar view showing an adaptation of my improved combination dual wheel and brake mechanism for use on trailers, where the shaft is fixed and the wheels rotated thereon.

The preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a shaft 6 which provides the support for a pair of wheel hub members I and 8, the effective, simultaneous braking of which is accomplished by means of a brake mechanism [0.

The shaft 6 may be a tapered form as shown in Fig. l, or it may be a straight form as shown in Fig. 2. When this improved combination dual wheel and brake mechanism is used on trucks or tractors, the shaft 6 would be driven in the usual manner, being connected to drive the outer wheel I. In case this combination dual wheel and brake mechanism is to be used on a trailer, the shaft 6 would be fixed in a manner characteristic with such vehicle structures and the wheel hub members would revolve thereon.

The wheel hub members 1 and 8 are of a more or less conventional construction. These com- 2Claims. (015180-22) 45 with the wheel hub member l2.

. 2' which are secured the respective disc elements l4 and I5 upon which are supported the rims l6 and II. It will be noted, in the drawings, that theudiscs l4 and I5 are shown bolted to the respective hub bearings l2 and I3 and welded to the respective rims l6 and 11. Other modes of vattaching these several parts may be used without affecting the essence of my invention.

The form of the hub bearings l2 and I3 vary are to be used on a driven or On a fixed shaft 6. In the adaptation shown in Fig. 1; the hub bearing 12 is fixed on the end of the shaft 6 by means of a key] I8. It is held against axial displacement 15 by a nut l9,and a washer secured to the end of the shafts. In the adaptation presented in Fig. 2, for use with a stationary shaft, the wheel I hub bearing I2 is rotatably supported on the end of the shaft 6 by suitable ball or roller bearings go 2 l. The hub bearing is retained against axial displacement by the nut l9 and the washer 20. An integral sleeve 22 extends inwardly along and around'the shaft 6, the purpose of which is to reduee the likelihood of wobble for the wheel 25 mounted on the rim [6.

The brake mechanism [0, which is an allimportant feature of my invention, comprises a pair of brake drums'23 and 24 with which are cooperatively arranged a pair of brake arms 25. These may be of a more or less conventional type,

shiftably supported on a supporting bar 26 and operated by any conventional fluid or mechanical brake-shifting mechanism to simultaneously arrest the rotation of the respective wheel hub members 12 and H. The brake drums ar of 40 identical complementary form and are located in opposed relationship inwardly of the wheel hub member l3.

The brake drum 23 is secured to a bearing support or sleeve 2'! which is connected to rotate This bearing support or sleeve 21 is rotatably supported on ball or roller bearings 28 mounted on the shafthousing 29. In the adaptation shown in Fig. 1, this fixed relationshipof the bearing support 2! l0 and the hub member I2 is effected by means of the key l8. It secures both parts in rotatable relationship with the shaft 6. In the adaptation shown in Fig. 2, the bearing support 21 is splined to the extension sleeve 22 so as to rotate thereprise the respective hub bearings l2 and I; to 68 with.v 'Thus these parts operate as a unit, but

are made separable in order to permit the assembling and dismantling of the wheel structures.

The bearing support 21 also serves as a bearing for the wheel hub member l3 and its sleeve extension I3. In the adaptation shown in Fig. 2, a bronze bearing 30 is inserted between the sleeve extension I3 and the bearing member 21.

The brake drum 24 is secured to the adjacent wheel hub member I3 in the manner indicated.

The operating means for the brake mechanism I may be of any conventional type, either mechanical, hydraulic, or air. Accordingly, the embodiment herein shown is intended to be essentially illustrative. To that and brake levers are shown with their lower ends pivoted at 3| to the supporting bar 26. These levers 25 are of the usual arc-shaped form andso arranged that when their outer upper ends are pushed will be applied simultaneously and uniformly to both wheel hub members as occasion may demand. In this adaptation the brake levers 25 are of L shape cross section and are connected to a single brake shoe 32 which simultaneously ,engages bothbrake drums 23 and 24. In this i latter construction both pairs of brake levers may be operated by a single hydraulic element. The

oppositely shiftable pistons would be connected by, appropriate link mechanisms to both brake shoes'on the corresponding sides of the supportapart, the brake bands 32 are forced outwardly against the inner peripheries of the brake drums 23 and 24 in the conventional manner, somewhat comparable to what is shown in patent to E. L. Miller 2,243,569, issued May 27, 19,41.

Inasmuch as hydraulic or air brakes are preferred for the heavier type of vehicles for which dual wheel mechanism is so advantageous, the

brake levers 25 are herein shown to be operated- --ing bar 26.

A plug 43 normally closes an aperture through '"which-suitable lubricant may be introduced to the rotating parts of the wheel mechanism.

The operation of this dual wheel and brake mechanism combination will be apparent, it is believed, from the foregoing description.

l. A dual wheel mechanism for motor vehicles comprising a driving shaft journaled in a housing, an outer wheel hub keyed to" rotate with said shaft, a sleeve also keyed torotate with said shaft, an inner wheel hub journaled on said sleeve, a pair'of opposed brake drums'located inwardly ofsaidinner wheel hub, the outer of said brake to rotate with said sleeve, a brake-supporting connected together in pairs and be operated by a single piston 33 as indicated in Fig. 2.

The supporting bar 26, comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed radial arms welded to the hub member 26' is held in place between the opposed brake drums 23 and 24 by mean of pins 36 extending'outwardly from arms 31 supported on the shaft-housing 29; This bar 26' provides a support for the pivot pins 3| for the brake levers 25 and for the hydraulic cylinders 34.

In the adaptation shown in Fig. 1 only the-- bar suspended between said brake drums from arms secured on said shaft housing, and brake mechanism carried by said bar for simultaneously shifting into and out of engagement with said brake-drums.

2. A dual wheel mechanism for motor vehicles comprising, a shaft mounted in a housing, a pair of wheels mounted adjacent to each other on said shaft and adapted to rotate independently of each other, a pair of opposed brake drums located inwardly of the inner wheel, the outer of said brake drums being fixed to rotate with said inner wheel, the inner of said brake drums being fixed to rotate with the outer wheel, a brakesupporting bar suspended between said brake drums from arms secured on said housing, and brake mechanism carried by said bar for simultaneously shifting into and out of engagement with said brake drums.

FRANK M. LEWIS. 

